Although most nights have been significantly below freezing lately, the temperature has gotten enough above freezing during most days so that much melting has occurred. In our back yard, this means we have actually had a very little “lake” (a big puddle really). This has delighted the Mallards that periodically descend upon our yard.

This morning I quickly birded a handful of Anchorage sites today before heading off to a morning meeting. All that appeared at Potter Marsh were distant Black-capped Chickadees, a Downy Woodpecker and a Bald Eagle. I expect that things may open up soon, but not yet.

At Cuddy Park the only waterfowl were the zillion Mallards and the two continuing Common Goldeneyes, mostly invisible as they repeatedly dove.

At Spenard Crossing the two Trumpeter Swans were still around, as were the goldeneyes and a couple of Common Mergansers. Nothing new, but soon….

Tomorrow afternoon I am scheduled to fly to Nome for my second trip of the year. This time I’m staying more than a day, and hope to drive outside of town and at least add a few Willow Ptarmigan to my year list. From my review of prior records, however, few spring migrants are likely to have arrived. But that’s the point of these trips – to bring the past records alive to me and see what’s around, month-to-month.